Wire-wiping machine.



W. 0. GILLAM.

WIRE WIPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 14,1912. 1,0s5,1 22.

gut-Z3 Inventor ???3; uzazzv'fij 0. Gziflqm coLuMam PLANOGRAPM co. wAsmkc-mN. n. c

Patented J an. 27, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

W. O. GILLAM.

WIRE WIPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 14,1912.

1 085 122 Patented Jan. 27, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

witnesses: In ventor @uz A)! William 0. Gillam/ M Mzw B,

COLUMBIA FLANOGRAPN (0., WASHINGTON. D. c.

FFTQ.

WILLIAM O. GILLAM, OF KOKOMO, INDIANA.

WIRE-WIPING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 27, 1914.

Application filed September 14, 1912. Serial No. 720,371.

T 0 (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM O. GILLAM,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Kokomo, in the county of Howard and State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in lVire-lViping Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to wire wiping machines and has for an object a simple arrangement for drawing wire through a vat or tank containing molten metal and subsequently removing the surplus metal from the wire, so that the wire will have a uniform coating of the metal thereon.

My invention includes an arrangement which comprises trigger mechanism, disposed at one end of the tank, which is actuated by a splice in the wire. This trigger mechanism is connected with suitable gearing mechanism, part of which is rotated intermittently. This gearing mechanism, in turn, is connected to the wiping mechanism, which is arranged so that it can be raised so as to allow the splice in the wire to pass through.

My invention will be best understood by referring to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the arrangement embodying the features of my invention; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevational view of the wiping mechanism and showing some of the parts in section; and Fig. 4: is a side view looking in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 3.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a. vat or tank 5 for containing molten metal 6, through which a wire 7 is adapted to be drawn. It is to be understood, of course, that my arrangement provides for drawing a plurality of wires through this molten metal. The wires are disposed at one end of the vat upon reels 8 and each wire passes over suitable sheaves 9 and then is drawn through the molten metal by means of suitable power mechanism disposed at the other end of the tank. This power mechanism is belted to a pulley 10, secured upon a shaft 11 which is mounted in suitable bearings. The reels 12, 12 are socured upon the shaft 11 and receive the wires 7 after they have been coated with the metal. As the wires are drawn through the tank and coated, it is desirable that suitable means be employed to remove the surplus metal, so that each wire will have a uniform coating thereon. To this end, I have arranged mechanism at one end of the tank through which the wires are drawn after being coated and this wiping mechanism is arranged to be opened or widened in order to provide for a splice in the wire to pass through said wiping mechanism.

The tank has secured at each side thereof two bearings 13, 13, having shafts 14: and 15 secured thereto. A shaft 16 is also mounted in these bearings and has, at one end, a pulley 17 adapted for connection with a suitable source of power, This shaft has in addition a plurality of gears 18, 18, which are adapted to mesh with mutilated gears 19, 1t), loosely mounted upon the shaft 15. These mutilated gears, in turn, are arranged to mesh with gears 20. 20, loosely mounted upon the shaft 14. The mutilated gears have two diametrically opposite pins 21, 21 extending therefrom, each of which are adapted to engage with a dog 22, pivoted at to a plunger 2 1 riding in a suitable supporting member 25. The plunger 24: has a pin 26 which rides in an elongated slot 27 in the member 25, so as to limit the movement of the plunger 2%. Inside of the member 25 and engaging with one end of the plunger 2st, there is a spring 27 which serves to maintain the plunger 24 in its normal position, as shown in the drawings. This plunger 24L has a spring 28 secured thereto and which engages with the dog 22, so as to maintain the dog in its normal position. A pin extends from the plunger 2 and engages with a brake member 30 which is pivoted at 31 and which has, at the opposite end. a notch 32 which is adapted to engage with a projection 33 upon the eccentric strap 34, which forms part of the eccentric 35. The braking member 30 is held in its up position by a suitable spring and, when the parts are in the position as shown in the drawings, there is no rotation of the gear 20, nor of the mutilated gears 19. The eccentric 35 has extending therefrom an arm 36 which engages at one end with a rod 37, suitable spring means being employed to make the engagement more or less yielding, as occasions may require. pivoted at 38 to a stationary part of the vat 5 and this rod has pivoted at 39 a mem- The rod 37 is her 40 which extends downward and is secured to a yoke 41 which is secured to a central portion 42 and which engages with a supporting member 43. The yoke 41 has at its lower end a cylindrical member 44 which is mounted upon a rod 45. This cylindrical member may be composed of asbestos, or any suitable material, the purpose of which will be later described. supporting member 43 has mounted therein, below the cylindrical member 44, a base of asbestos 46, which is arranged to wipe the wire as it is drawn out from the tank.

The wires 7 are drawn somewhat rapidly through the molten metal and, as this action is taking place, it is desirable that the wiping mechanism be raised somewhat slowly to allow the splice 47 to pass through the wiping mechanism. The wires 7 are drawn through the liquid quite rapidly and when the splice in each wire engages with the associated trigger the wire wiping mechanism will very gradually open up or spread apartin order to permit the splice to pass into the liquid and then out therefrom and through the wiping mechanism, after which the wiping mechanism is gradually brought together and into wiping engagement with the wire. It is to be understood that the splices in the wires do not strike or engage the triggers at the same time so that the mutilated gears 19 and the gears 20 are rotated independently of the other sets of similar gears.

At one end of the tank there are pivoted a plurality of bifurcated triggers 48, loosely mounted upon a shaft 49, and which are held in their normal position against a rod 50, which rod and the shaft 49 are mounted in suitable extensions from the tank 5. Each trigger has secured thereto a wire 51 which is adapted to pass through a pipe 52 and is secured at its other end to the plunger 24, as shown in Fig. 2. As the wire is drawn through and the splice 47 engages with the trigger, this trigger is rotated a certain amount, thus pulling the wire 51 through the pipe and against the tension of the spring 27 and, since the dog 22 is engaging with one of the pins 21, the mutilated gear 15) will be rotated an amount suflicient so as to bring the spring tooth into mesh with the constantly rotating gear 18. The amount of movement of the mutilated gear is shown by the dotted indication of the pin 21, this angular movement being just suflicient so as to cause the proper engagement with the gears. After such engagement occurs, the mutilated gear will continue to rotate until the mutilated portion 54 of the gear is brought into a position occupied by the mutilated portion when rotation of the mutilated gear ceases. During this rotation, either one of the pins 21 engages with the inclined portion of the dog 22 and snaps it downward after the gear has been rotated sufiiciently so as to permit the dog to engage with the pin 21, in the position as shown in the drawings. The spring teeth are provided so that, in case there should be improper engagement of the gear with the pin 21, which is notdesired, these spring teeth will be actuated so as to prevent breaking the teeth of the mutilated gear. During the period of rotation of the mutilated gear, it is understood, of course, that the gear 20 is given a complete rotation so that the arm is raised a certain amount. Consequently, the cylindrical member 44, which engages with the wire, is raised into the dotted position, as shown in Fig. 3.

As the plunger 24 is drawn against the tension of the spring 27, the pin 29 forces the brake member 30 out of engagement with the projection 33 so as to permit the eccentric 35 and the gear 20 to which it is secured to rotate. Since these parts are given a complete rotation, the succeeding position of these parts will be in the position shown in Fig. 2. The supporting member 43 is provided with a plurality of ducts 58 which are connected with piping 59, which piping is connected with an oil tank 60. Suitable valves are employed to control the supply of oil to the ducts As shown, the intermediate ducts are branched so as to supply oil to the wiping arrangement disposed on either side thereof. Each of the cylindrical members 44 is arranged so that during the upward movement of the yokes 41 a slight rotation is given to the cylindrical members 44. This is produced by the following mechanism: A ratchet 61 is secured upon the rod 45 and is adapted to be engaged by a pawl (32 which is pivoted to the supporting member 43, a suitable spring being employed to maintain the pawl in its engagement with the ratchet. A retaining pawl (33 is pivoted to the member 42 and engages with the ratchet 61. As the yoke 41 and the member 42 are being raised, the ratchet will be rotated owing to the engagement of the pawl (32 with said ratchet and the ratchet will be rotated sufficiently so that the dog 63 will engage the succeeding tooth. Then, as the yoke 41 and member 42 are brought into their down position, the dog 62 will engage with the next tooth. This operation is repeated each time there is an up and down movement of these parts and it provides for the engagement of the wire with different portions of the cylindrical member 44. In other words, it prevents a groove being worn in this member and, consequently, increases the durability of the parts. It will be seen in Fig. 3 that the cylindrical member 44 closes the ducts 58 so that when this member is in its down and engaging position with the wire, no oil will flow from these ducts so that the amount of oil which is permitted to flow into engagement with the wire as it passes through the wiping mechanism is dependent more or less upon the splice in the wire.

Inasmuch as the cylindrical member 4 1 and the base 46 are composed of material such as asbestos or any similar substance, it is desirable that when the splice in the wire engages with the base 46, the cylindrical memher 4 1 be raised so as to allow a tree passage of said splice, thus preventing the tearing or mutilating of the cylindrical member and the base 46. The cylindrical member &4 may be built up in any suitable manner, as, for example, there may be a plurality of prongs extending from the rod 45 and the asbestos or similar material may be wrapped around the rod 45 and into engagement with these prongs so that there will be a more or less solid construction. The base 16 may be held in place in the supporting member 13 by suitable plates disposed at either side thereof and secured to the member 43, as shown in Fig. 3.

It will be noted from the foregoing de scription that my arrangement comprises mechanism which is very effective in thoroughly removing the surplus coating on a wire after it has been coated with metal or any other substance and this mechanism is of such a nature that the operation is reliable and positive.

The durability of the mechanism, particularly the wiping members, is increased owing to the fact that this wiping mechanism is opened up so as to permit the passage of the splice therethrough, thus pre venting injury and mutilation of the parts.

As shown in the drawings, the reels 8 are supported upon extensions from the tank. It is to be understood that these reels may be disposed at a distance from the tank, if desired, as occasions demand.

While I have herein shown and described one particular embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that modifications may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. In a wire wiping machine, the combination of a tank containing liquid through which wires are adapted to be drawn, wire wiping apparatus, means for drawing a wire through said apparatus, gearing mechanism' connected with said apparatus, one portion of said gearing mechanism having a constant rotation, the other portion of said gearing mechanism having an intermittent rotation and being controlled by a splice in the wire, means for engaging the splice in the wire, such engagement producing an initial rotation of the gears having an intermittent rotation, and a lever connected with said gears for raising and lowering one portion of said wiping apparatus.

2. In a wire wiping machine, the combination of a tank containing liquid through which wires are adapted to be drawn, wire wiping apparatus, means for drawing a wire through said apparatus, gearing mechanism connected with said apparatus, one portion of said gearing apparatus having a constant rotation, the other portion having an intermittent rotation, and means for engaging a splice in the wire, such engagement causlng the intermittent rotatlon of said gears so as to permit the splice to pass through the wiping apparatus.

3. In a wire-wiping device, the combination of a stationary part, a movable part, means actuated by a splice in the wire for raising said movable part to permit the passage of the splice, said movable part having a rotatable asbestos wiping member adapted for engagement with the wire, a wiping member for said stationary part, pawl and ratchet mechanism for rotating said asbestos wiping member, and means for supplying oil to said wiping members.

1. In a wire-wiping device, the combination of a stationary part, a movable part, means actuated by a splice in the wire for raising said movable part to permit the passage of the splice, said movable part having a rotatable asbestos wiping member adapted for engagement with the wire, a wiping member for said stationary part, pawl and ratchet mechanism for rotating said asbestos wiping member, there being oil passages leading through said stationary part to the wiping member, means for connecting said passages with a source of oil supply for oiling said wiping members.

5. In a wire wiping device, the combination of a stationary part, a movable part, means actuated by a splice in the wire for raising said movable part to permit the passage of the splice, said movable part having a rotatable asbestos wiping member adapted for engagement with the wire, a wiping member for said stationary part, pawl and ratchet mechanism for rotating said asbestos wiping member, a source of oil supply, there being passages for directing oil to said wiping members, said rotatable wiping member serving to normally close said passages.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 11 day of September, A. D., 1912.

'WILLIAM O. GILLAM.

W'itnesses LEONARD NOVANDER, LESLIE WV. Fnronn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C." 

